'Apology Tour' Folly

From Ralph Peters in the New York Post:
I, for one, don't think our country has anything to apologize for, either to Turkey or to Europe. Insisting that America's always guilty, Obama omitted any mention of Turkey's wartime betrayals of our troops, its continuing oppression of its Kurd minority or the AKP's determination to turn a state with a secular constitution into a Wahhabi playground. When it came to the Armenian genocide, Obama bravely ducked: He never dared use the g-word. And Obama's disdainful remarks about President Bush were just shabby. After those overpriced tour T-shirts have shrunk in the wash (trust me -- they will), what will we have gained from Obama's superstar act? He told the Europeans that the global economic crisis is all our fault. No mention of European greed, overleveraged governments, destructive Euro-loans or Chinese currency manipulation. We did it. Whip us, please. In return, the Europeans gave him . . . nothing. Even though Obama was right when he said that Europe faces a greater terror threat than we do, the entire continent only ponied up 2,500 short-term non-combat troops for Afghanistan. The Europeans know we'll do the heavy lifting. He gave the Russians yet another blank check, too. (Meanwhile, in Moscow, Putin's thugs beat an aging pro-democracy dissident to a pulp.) In return, the Russians promised to . . . well, actually, they didn't promise anything. Then Obama went to Turkey, undercut secular political parties, infuriated the Europeans -- and disclaimed our country's Judeo-Christian heritage. (Did Turkey's leaders respond by denying Islam's importance to them? Naw.) In Turkey, Obama got . . . nothing we didn't already have. Then he went to Iraq and told its prime minister that Iraq would get nothing. I believe that our president wants to do the right thing. But he doesn't have a clue how. For now, he's enraptured by the applause. But he hasn't tried to charge his fans for their tickets. And they've already made up their minds they won't have to pay.

Michelle Watching: No Kisses!

From Andy Soltis in the New York Post:
There was kissing confusion as President Obama was greeted by France's first lady with an awkward handshake and later had to be coaxed by France's president to plant one on a co-ed admirer.
The first clumsy moment came when Obama and First Lady Michelle were warmly greeted in Strasbourg by France's first couple, President Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
On a red carpet outside the Rohan Palace, Carla gave Michelle the traditional kiss-kiss on each check, while their spouses patted each other on the back.
When they changed places, Sarkozy also gave Michelle a pair of cheek kisses -- even though at 5-foot-6, he had to stretch to reach her.
Standing next to them, Carla appeared to lean toward Obama's cheek.
But the president stood his ground. Carla, seeming unsure what to do, pulled back and offered her right hand.
So while Sarkozy and Michelle were embracing, Obama and Carla settled for a handshake.
The protocol faux pas occurred as the presidents kicked off a celebration of NATO's 60th anniversary.
Obama also appeared reluctant when he and Sarkozy approached a crowd of ecstatic French well-wishers.
Cecilia Dervogne, a student at the University of Strasbourg, called out to the rock-star president.
"I said in slightly hesitating English . . . 'A kiss for me?' " Dervogne recalled.
Obama diplomatically pointed out to her that they were being watched -- by Michelle and the Secret Service, not to mention the rest of the world.
"He showed me his bodyguards, who were surveying everything. I think there was a security gap we were supposed to keep to," she said.
But the gracious host stepped in to rescue the moment.
"What, you're not going to give her a kiss?" Sarkozy asked Obama with mock shock.
Obama realized that when in France, he had to do what the French do.
"He offered his cheek timidly, and I gave him a kiss," Dervogne said.

Obama's March Madness

From Charles Hurt in the New York Post:
In a short period of time, Obama has retreated from a whole host of the very clear promises in his campaign that drew in even Republicans weary of the corruption and criminal waste of Washington.
Vowing to change how this place works, he would wrest control of DC from the greedy hands of lobbyists and put an end to politicians paying off benefactors with plum pots of federal tax money.
But today, two months to the day since he became president, Obama has hired countless lobbyists, surrendered his ban on pork, and made a mockery of responsibility.
Indeed, every year during March Madness, there's a Cinderella story a team that defies the odds.
Sadly, this year's Cinderella story is not a Texas Tech or a George Mason but the Obama administration.
It's turning into a pumpkin right before our very eyes.

Natasha Richardson Shocker

From Michael Riedel at the New York Post:
Actress Natasha Richardson is brain dead - after falling in a ski accident in Canada - and is now on sad journey home to New York, friends told The Post today.
Richardson, who was being treated at a Montreal hospital, is being transported to New York this afternoon so her mom Vanessa Redgrave, two children and other loved ones can say goodbye before she's taken off life-support, friends said.
Liam Neeson, husband of the Broadway and screen star, left shooting of his movie in Toronto to rush to Richardson's side in Montreal and now on the trip home.
The British-born Richardson, 45, fell during a private lesson at Mont Tremblant resort yesterday and allegedly told resort employees she felt fine.
But an hour later, she complained of an extreme headache and was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Richardson was on a beginner's slope and reportedly not wearing a helmet when she fell - although headgear is not required.
"She did not show any visible sign of injury but the ski patrol followed strict procedures and brought her back to the bottom of the slope and insisted she should see a doctor," said a statement from the resort, which is almost 80 miles northwest of Montreal.

Broadway As Walkway

From David Seifman at the New York Post:

The Great White Way will turn into a great walkway.
In a stunning Midtown makeover, Mayor Bloomberg announced today that traffic lanes along Broadway from 42nd to 47th streets and from 33rd to 35th streets will be torn up starting Memorial Day and transformed into pedestrian plazas until at least the end of the year.
PHOTOS: Broadway as a Pedestrian Mall
"By making targeted adjustments at Broadway's two main pinch points, we believe we can ease traffic congestion throughout the Midtown grid," Bloomberg said. "We are going to closely monitor the results to determine if this pilot works and should be extended beyond its trial period."
The $1.5 million pilot program will discontinue vehicular traffic from 47th Street to 42nd Street and from 35th Street to 33rd Street - connecting Seventh Avenue through Times Square, where it is currently bisected by Broadway, and improve traffic flow on Sixth Avenue through Herald Square.
Bloomberg said the result will be simplified traffic patterns, longer green lights and reduced travel times across Midtown.
All car traffic going east and west through Times and Herald Squares will not be impacted and travel times are expected to improve on some of those streets, Bloomberg added.
In addition, the plan is expected to improve bus times on the avenues for the more than 75,000 daily passengers.

We love Broadway and we are frequent visitors toTimes Square and Herald Square (Macy's). We hope the new configurations works out but we don't want to see the hustle and bustle of Broadway disappear. The day that Broadway becomes a calm, languid oasis (or anything approaching same) is the day Broadway dies.

Obama Math: You Lose!

From a New York Post editorial:

While the president has promised that families making less than $250,000 a year won't see their taxes go up "a dime," don't hold your breath.
Now, it's true that the average worker will get $13 a week this year from the stimulus plan, dropping to $8 next year.
But how does that stack up against the Bush tax relief that Americans are likely to lose? Do the math: This year, the Bush tax cuts should save Americans an estimated $205 billion. Divide that by 142 million workers and it averages $27 a week in every pocket.
Looks like average Joes lose. And that's true, even down the income ladder.
Democrats like to claim that most of the Bush tax relief goes only to the wealthy - implying that scrapping it won't hurt others. But maybe they should ask the breadwinner in an average family of four making about $42,000.
The Treasury Department has estimated that the Bush tax cuts would save such a taxpayer just over $2,300 this year - more than $44 a week. If Obama winds up ditching the cuts for him, he'd be worse off, just like the "wealthy."
Even if Obama works money miracles and doesn't hike taxes on anyone but "the rich," there's still cause for huge concern.
Many of the folks who report $250,000 or more in income are hardly fat cats: They're hard-working small-business owners who pay taxes on their revenues via their personal income-tax returns.
In fact, in the top two income-tax brackets - the ones Obama proposes to squeeze most heavily - a full 80 percent of filers report small-business income.
Over the last 10 years, small businesses created 60 percent to 80 percent of the nation's net new jobs. By socking it to their bottom line, the president's new tax move will dry up the nation's most fertile source of employment - just as more and more Americans are looking for work.
So let's get this straight: Obama's big stimulus is a worse deal for workers than the Bush tax cuts he's sacrificing to pay for it.
The tax hikes will slam small-business owners and discourage the entrepreneurship and risk-taking our economy needs.
And by signaling that Americans can expect tax hikes down the road, Obama encourages sensible people to bank their stimulus checks and save for the leaner days ahead - undermining the whole purpose of the massive spending.